Set in a crime-ridden futuristic Detroit, the original film told of a mortally wounded law officer becomes part of a corporate experiment in which his remains are encased in a robotic suit and unleashed on the city’s felons.

MGM has been developing the remake for several years with “Black Swan” helmer Darren Aronofsky slated to direct. Progress on the project halted due to MGM’s financial problems and Aronofsky moved on.

Now with the new MGM reconstituted under Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, the Lion is now setting up the project as its first major franchise re-launch.